Door hanger



Nov. 9 ,1926. v 1,606,450

E. M, ROYER noon HANGER,-

\ Filed Ju1 y16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Nov. 9 1926.

i E. M. ROYER' IIIIIIIIII xxx V ELAM M 50/55 v win Es e55 Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

ELAM M. BUYER, 01E EPHRA'IA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DOOR HANGER.

Application filed. July 16, 1925. Serial No. 44,113

This invent-ion relates to improvements in door hangers adapted for use on grain cars,

garages and similar structures.

An important object of the invention is to provide a door hanger adapted to permit sliding movement of doors of the above character upon suitable tracks or guide rails.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a door hanger which may be very easily actuated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a door hanger of the above character which is comparatively simple and durable of construction and will be extremely eliicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention mounted in association with a door and door frame,

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4c is an end elevation of one of the detail members.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 generally designates a portion of a head rail of a conventional type of door frame such as are commonly employed ongarages and similar structures;

In carrying out my invention, I provide arhanger guide rail embodying a longitudinal substantially L-shaped rail 11 having a comparatively wide plate 12 at its inner side and a shorter plate 13 at its outer side. The inner vertical plate 12 is adapted to be positioned against the head rail of the door frame and secured in position by wood screws 14 or in any desirable manner. The rail 11 is necessarily of durable metallic construction and the upper end of the outer plate 13 is bent inwardly to form an angular flange 15, the purpose of which will become apparent as the description progresses, An obtuse angled plate 16 is secured to the outer side of the outer shorter plate 13 by means of rivets 17 or any desirable manner and forms a complementary flange 18 so as to provide a ii-shaped track upon which door hangers may be readily actuated;

Referring now more particularly to the door hanger structure, each hanger embodies a comparatively large spherical member preferably a steel ball somewhat greater in diameter than the width of the guide rail so as to form projecting portions at each side thereof, and adapted to readily roll on the and 18'. Carried by the ball 19 in its movement upon the rail is a door bracket 20 of comparatively heavy metallic construction substantially Ushaped at its upper portion so to provide a comparatively short downwardly depending lug 21 uponv the rear edge movable in the guide rail 12 and on its forward side carrying a comparatively long downwardly extending arm apertured adja cent its lower extremity. A pair of angular fingers project from the intermediate portion of the arm 22 and are also apertured adjacent the extremities to permit attachment upon a door. A garage or box car door 24 is positioned adjacent the inner side of the arm 22 and secured thereto by wood screws 25 or any suitable manner.

The intermediate portion of the bracket lug 21 and the directly opposed portion of the bracket arm 22 are enlarged to pro vide extensions 26 so that these portions of the bracket may be strengthened. The inner face of the lug 21 is provided with a pair of annular concentric ridges 27 providing therebetween an annular groove or recess 28 in order to receive therein ball bearings 29. The groove 28 is arrangedso as to cause the ball bearings 29 to be in contact with the extending portion of the ball 19 and a central concaved recess 30 is formed in the lug so as to permit convenient rotation of the ball. The opposite portion of the bracket 20 is provided with an internally screw threaded recess in which is mounted a screw threaded shank 31 provided on its outer extremity with a. hexagonal head 32 and recessed on its inner extremity to carry ball bearings in the same manner as the inner face of the lug. With reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that this structure provides a plurality of annular arranged ball bearings upon each side of the ball 19. This structure will permit the door V-shaped track formed by the flanges 15 1 and bracket to be easily moved upon the guide rail with the least possible frictional resistance.

In order to retain the shank 31 in its proper adjusted position, I provide a transversely extending set screw 33 mounted 111 a suitable recess in the forward side of the bracket engageable with the shank so as to contact with the shank and prevent move ment thereo'i when in operation. It is ob vious from this construction, that by releasing the set screw 38 the shank 81 may be rotated for adjusting the position of the ball bearings relative to the ball 19.

In order that the hanger mechanism may be protected trom' the elements as far as mit a door of relatively heavy structure to be very easily operated so that very little effort will be required to move'the door toan open or closed position. The simplicity of construction atlords a device of this character which can be very readily mounted in position and placed upon'the market at a comparatively low cost.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A door hanger of the class described including, a guide rail, a door bracket U- shaped at its upper end and provided with a lower downwardly extending arm, ball bearings mounted on the inner walls of the U-shaped portion, means for mounting a door upon the downward extending arm, a

comparatively large spherical member movable on the guide rail engageable with the ball bearings formed in the U-shaped por tion, and means for laterally adjusting the ball bearings relative to the said. spherical member.

2. A door hanger, comprising, in combination, an L-shaped rail having a V-shaped track formed on its outer projecting portion, a comparatively large ball movable on the said rail, a'door bracket including a U- shaped portion and a downwardly extending arm, a shank threadedly mounted in the front of the U-shaped bracket member, means for rotating the said threaded shank, ball bearing grooves formed in the inner face of the shank and opposite face of the bracket member, ball bearings mounted in the said grooves, the said ball bearings being adapted to contact with the large ball, means for securing a door to the downwardly extending arm of the bracket, and a substantially Ushaped cover secured about the said rail and bracket.

3. A door hanger comprising a guide rail including a comparatively wide side plate, means for securing the said side plate upon a door frame, a comparatively narrow side plate having its upper end bent inwardly to provide an angular flange, a complementary flanged plate secured to the narrow side plate forming a V-shaped track, a comparatively large steel ball movable on the said. track, a door bracket including an upper U- shaped portion one of the sides thereof being adapted to receive a threaded shank, ball bearing grooves formed in the inner end of the shank and opposite the forward bracket wall, ball bearings mounted in the said grooves in contact with the large steel ball, means for securing a door to the downwardly depending portion or the bracket, and a substantially U-shaped cover having openings on its inner side flange for mounting the same in super-imposed position over the guide rail and door hanger.

l. In a door hanger, a guide rail, a comparatively large ball longitudinally movable on the said rail, a door bracket having an upper U-shaped portion and a downwardly depending arm, a threaded shank movably mounted in the upper U-shaped portion, the said shank and opposite vertical lug of the bracket being provided with annular grooves, ball bearings mounted in the said annular grooves and adapted to contact with the large ball, and means for securing a door or the like to the downwardly depending arm.

5. In a door hanger, a guide rail, a ball movable on the guide rail, a door bracket having an upper portion arranged to overhang the ball and having an extension adapted to be secured to a door, ball bearings mounted in one side of the bracket engageable with the ball, and a shank adjustably mounted in the opposite side of the bracket carrying ball bearings adapted to engage the opposite side of the ball, the said shank being adjustable to vary the contact of the opposed ball bearings with the ball.

6. In a door hanger, a guide rail, a ball movable on the guide rail, a door bracket having an inverted U-shaped portion positioned about the ball and an extension position engageable with a door, ball bearings mounted in one side of the U-shaped portion of the bracket engageable with one side of the ball, and a shank threadedly mounted in the opposite side of the bracket carrying ball bearings adapted to engage the opposite side of the ball, the said shank being laterally adjustable to permit adjustment of the ball bearings with'the ball.

7. In a door hanger, the combination with a guide rail, a ball movable on the guide rail, and a door bracket having a U-shaped portion adapted to be positioned about the ball, an extension on one side of the U- shaped portion adapted to be secured to a door, ball bearings mounted in an annular recess in one side of the bracket engageable with one side of the ball, and a shank threadedly mounted in the opposite side of the bracket having ball bearings mounted in an annular recess formed in its inner end and engageable with the opposite side of 20 the ball, the said shank being threadedly adjustable to vary the distance between the ball bearin s at each side of the bracket in contact with the ball.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELAM M. ROYER. 

